Phantoms fall in Robertson Cup

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — Despite 41 saves from goaltender Garrett Bartus, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms fell 5-2 to the St. Louis Bandits in the Robertson Cup Championship game on Sunday afternoon at the Hardees’ IcePlex.

Kyle O’Kane led the way for St. Louis, scoring a pair of goals, while goaltender Cal Heeter turned aside 27 shots en route to the Bandits’ second consecutive Junior A National Championship.

“These guys gave everything they had, but just ran a bit out of gas,” said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt. “We’ve been beating the odds here all week, playing shorthanded. We’ve had our share of injuries and hard luck. But to be able to come out and battle the way we did for 60 minutes, I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young men.

“In my eyes, they are champions because they proved to everybody how much heart they have. I am very proud of them.”

Miles Winter and defenseman Robert Harrison from the Phantoms were named to the Robertson Cup All-Star team following the game. The Phantoms finished the tournament with a 2-2-1 record, playing five games in five days. Overall, Mahoning Valley went 36-18-4 in the regular season, 6-5-1 in the playoffs, and has moved at least eight more kids on to the Division I NCAA hockey ranks.

“The big thing is that we’ve prepared a lot of guys for the next step in their life. Everyone has become a better hockey player and a better person and we are very proud of that,” said Mainhardt. “We are going to start working tomorrow towards next season, and doing everything we can to get back here and win it next time.”